Homing and controlling IP telephones

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to providing server functionality in a dedicated module or a specially configured packet-switched telephone. The server function is preferably adapted to control the configuration and operation of a plurality of packet-switched telephones configured to operate as clients of the server function. The server function may control specific operation of the packet-switched telephones as well as support communications between the packet-switched telephones and other telephony devices over the packet-switched network. The server function may operate to facilitate communications with the supported packets-witched telephones using a first protocol and with the other telephony devices using a second protocol. The second protocol is preferably the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is related to packet-switched telephony,and in particular, to controlling communications for multiple telephonydevices from a common telephony device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The convergence of circuit-switched networks, such as the publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), and packet-switched networks, such asthe Internet, has made it possible to transmit voice and data acrossdisparate networks. Currently, packet-switched telephony has evolved toallow packet-switched-based telephones, referred to in general asInternet Protocol (IP) telephones, to provide all of the services andfeatures of traditional circuit-based telephones in addition tosupporting innumerable web-based applications and services.

[0003] Currently, IP telephones either require sophisticated,self-contained control systems or rely on a dedicated server applicationrunning on a network-based server. For the self-contained IP telephones,the significant amount of hardware and software required to allow thetelephone to be self-supportive renders it cost prohibitive, especiallyfor business applications requiring a large number of telephones.

[0004] Although more cost effective, IP telephones acting as clients andrelying on a network server for operation tend to limit the user'sability to take advantage of additional features and configurabilityafforded to IP telephones. In particular, a terminal proxy server, whichis relatively removed from the associated IP telephones, will typicallyserve a large number of telephones and provide each of those telephoneswith a common configuration. Currently, the ability of users toconfigure an individual telephone or group of telephones to accommodatespecific needs in an efficient and user-friendly manner does not exist.These telephones either require configuration through the telephoneinterface itself or by a dedicated administrator capable of interactingwith the server applications running on the terminal proxy server.

[0005] As such, there is a need for a cost effective IP telephonysolution for applications requiring multiple IP telephones. Further,there is a need for a way to efficiently configure and customize thetelephones on an individual or group basis to take advantage of theextended functionality provided by packet-switched communications andweb-based applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to providing server functionalityin a dedicated module or a specially configured packet-switchedtelephone. The server function is preferably adapted to control theconfiguration and operation of a plurality of packet-switched telephonesconfigured to operate as clients of the server function. The serverfunction may control specific operation of the packet-switchedtelephones as well as support communications between the packet-switchedtelephones and other telephony devices over the packet-switched network.The server function may operate to facilitate communications with thesupported packet-switched telephones using a first protocol and with theother telephony devices using a second protocol. The second protocol ispreferably the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

[0007] A web server function may also be provided to allow web-basedconfiguration of the packet-switched telephones and provisioning ofcommunication functions or services. Providing a web-based interfaceallows administrators or users of the packet-switched telephones toconfigure the packet-switched telephones or provision communicationcapabilities using a web browser as a user interface. A web browserinterface provides a more user-friendly interface than using the limitedbuttons and display traditionally available on telephones.

[0008] The present invention moves the functionality of a terminal proxyserver to the edge of a traditional packet-switched network andlocalizes the homing and controlling of basic, packet-switchedtelephones in a local communication device. Providing such functionalityin a local device facilitates better local control, and providing aweb-based interface provides an efficient and user-friendly interfacefor administrators of and users in a work group.

[0009] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the presentinvention and realize additional aspects thereof after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments inassociation with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0010] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming apart of the application illustrate several aspects of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

[0011]FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary communications environment containingaspects constructed according to the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 1A is an exemplary configuration of a work group according toone embodiment of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 1B is an exemplary configuration of a work group according toa second embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a block representation of a server module constructedaccording to the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a block representation of an IP telephone constructedaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 4 depicts exemplary control architecture or a server moduleconstructed according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0017]FIG. 5 is an exemplary call flow diagram for the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The present invention provides for a server function, associatedwith an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone that is capable of facilitatingcommunications for additional IP telephones to form a telephone workgroup. The server function may be implemented in a separate moduleinterfacing with an IP telephone or integrated into a special IPtelephone. The telephone work group is preferably self-sufficient andcapable of communicating over an IP network using the necessaryprotocols to facilitate telephony communications with devices in the IPnetwork as well as those supported in associated networks. The IPtelephones in the work group do not require the services of atraditional terminal proxy server and will facilitate readyconfiguration by the users within the work group or an administrator ofthe work group.

[0019] Upon reading the following description in light of theaccompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understandthe concepts of the invention and will recognize applications of theseconcepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood thatthese concepts and applications fall within the scope of this disclosureand the accompanying claims. The embodiments set forth below representthe necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practicethe invention and illustrate the best mode of practicing the invention.

[0020] With reference to FIG. 1, a communication environment, generallyreferenced as 10, is shown centered about a packet-switched network,such as an IP network 12. The IP network 12 may be coupled to disparatenetworks, such as the PSTN 14, via a gateway 16 to facilitatecommunications with circuit-switched telephony devices 18. The gateway16 will facilitate protocol conversions and data manipulations necessaryto establish media flows or call processing between the networks intraditional fashion.

[0021] Packet-switched telephony communications throughout the IPnetwork 12 are preferably conducted using the Session InitiationProtocol (SIP). SIP provides the ability to establish sessions betweenendpoints over the IP network 12. The endpoints represent devicescommunicating over the IP network 12 using SIP. Once established,sessions can exchange media capabilities and set up multiple media pathsbetween the endpoints, depending on the capabilities of those endpoints.

[0022] A SIP endpoint is typically referred to as a user agent (UA).Generally, user agents register their ability to receive calls with aSIP proxy by sending REGISTER messages to the SIP proxy. The REGISTERmessage informs the SIP proxy of the SIP uniform resource locator (URL)that identifies the user agent to the IP network 12. The REGISTERmessage also contains information about how to reach the specific useragent over the IP network 12. For example, the information may includethe IP address and port facilitating communications. In addition, theREGISTER message provides a user agent's desired contact information,such as a telephone number or email address.

[0023] Typically, when one user agent needs to establish a call toanother user agent, an INVITE message is sent to the SIP proxyspecifying the targeted user agent in the “TO” header. Identification ofa user agent takes the form of a SIP URL, such as <USERNAME>@<DOMAIN>.The USERNAME is usually unique within the name space of the specifieddomain. The SIP proxy will use the SIP URL in the “TO” header of themessage to see if the user agent has registered with the SIP proxyserver.

[0024] If the targeted user agent has registered with the SIP proxy, theSIP proxy will forward an INVITE message directly to that user agent.The user agent will typically respond with a 200 OK message, and asession between the two agents will be established per the messageexchange required in the SIP specification. Capabilities are passedbetween the two endpoints as parameters embedded within the sessionsetup messages, including INVITE, 200 OK, and ACK. Media capabilitiescan also be exchanged using the SIP INFO message. Capabilities aretypically described using the Session Description Protocol (SDP).

[0025] Once endpoints are in an active session with each other and theyknow about each other's capabilities, they can begin to exchange thespecified media content. Further information pertaining to SIP may befound in the Internet Engineering Task Force's RFC 2543, which isincorporated herein by reference. An exemplary call flow scenarioincorporating SIP is described below following a description of thevarious components forming the communication environment.

[0026] Continuing to reference FIG. 1, a SIP proxy server 20 isassociated with the IP network 12 to facilitate SIP-based communicationswith various SIP-compatible devices. These devices may include adedicated terminal proxy server 22, which facilitates operation of an IPtelephone 24 acting as a client of the terminal proxy server 22. Theterminal proxy server 22 may support any number of clients intraditional fashion, as described above. The client-server basedconfiguration of the terminal proxy server 22 and IP telephone 24represents existing IP telephony solutions that are often undulyexpensive for a small number of IP telephones and difficult to customizeand configure. Personal computer (PC) 26 may also be configured as aSIP-based telephony device, also known as a SIP soft phone. As depicted,PC 26 is configured with the necessary hardware and software tofacilitate SIP services without requiring a traditional terminal proxyserver, such as terminal proxy server 22. However, SIP communicationsmay require the services of the SIP proxy server 20.

[0027] In contrast to the stand-alone SIP devices provided by PC 26 orthe terminal proxy server configuration, the present invention mayprovide a work group 28 of IP telephony devices 32, 34, 36 that arecapable of cooperating with one another and facilitating communicationsand services over the IP network 12 under the control of a smarttelephone configuration 30. As depicted, basic IP telephones 32 and 34may be homed to and have operation features controlled by the smarttelephone configuration 30. Preferably, the smart telephoneconfiguration 30 is formed by basic IP telephone 36 operating inassociation with a server module 38.

[0028] The server module 38 is capable of interacting with IP telephones32, 34, and 36 using a first protocol and facilitating communicationswith or control of these telephones 32, 34, 36 using a second protocolvia the IP network 12. Typically, the first protocol is a protocolrunning over IP that is configured to facilitate communications andcontrol of the IP telephones 32, 34, 36. In the present example, thesecond protocol is SIP. The server module 38 provides the SIP UAfunctionality. It eliminates the need for a network-based terminal proxyserver and is preferably also configured to act as a web server tofacilitate configuration of any of the IP telephones 32, 34, 36 via aweb browser running on personal computer 40. The server module 38provides the terminal proxy server functionality at the edge of the IPnetwork 12 instead of centralizing it in a formal, terminal proxyserver.

[0029] In operation, the IP telephones 32, 34, 36 will communicate overIP network 12 with the server module 38 using a first protocol, such asNortel's proprietary UNISTIM protocol. Depending on networkconfiguration, the server module 38 may have a unique IP address orshare a common address with the associated IP telephone 36.Communications between the server module 38 and other SIP-compatibledevices will use SIP. Preferably, SIP communications use the SIP proxyserver 20. The SIP proxy server 20 may communicate using SIP with PC 26,circuit-switched telephony device 18 via gateway 16, and IP telephone 24via terminal proxy server 22. Notably, the terminal proxy server 22 maycommunicate with IP telephone 24 using UNISTIM or other protocol. A webbrowser running on PC 40 may be used to access the server module 38,which will preferably be able to run a web server application capable ofconfiguring each of the IP telephones 32, 34, 36. Details of the webserver operation and configuration of the IP telephones 32, 34, 36 aredescribed in further detail below.

[0030] With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the smart telephoneconfiguration 30 may include a separate server module 38 configured tointerface with a basic IP telephone 36. Additional IP telephones, suchas IP telephones 32 and 34, may connect to the server module 38 througha local area network (LAN) or the like. The interface between the servermodule 38 and associated IP telephone 36 may be proprietary orfacilitated over the local area network. As such, IP telephone 36 mayhave a dedicated port, docking arrangement, or like interface tocommunicate with the server module 38.

[0031] Alternatively, the smart telephone configuration 30 may include aspecially configured IP telephone having the functionality of servermodule 38 integrated therein. As such, the additional IP telephones 32and 34 may connect directly to the smart telephone configuration 30, ormay connect via a hub, switch, router, server, or like network device.Those skilled in the art will recognize the various degrees ofintegration and network configurations capable of facilitating theconcepts of the present invention.

[0032] An exemplary configuration for the server module 38 is depictedin FIG. 2. The server module 38 will preferably include a control system42 having sufficient memory 44 to store the requisite software 46 anddata required for operation. The control system 42 may also beassociated with an IP interface 48 to provide access to the IP network12. The IP interface 48 may be a standard network interface connection.The control system 42 may also include a dedicated telephone interface50 configured to interface with IP telephone 36 to form the smarttelephone configuration 30. Depending on the configuration, the controlsystem 42 may only require the IP interface 48 if communications betweenthe server module 38 and the IP telephone 36 are routed over a localarea network or the IP network 12. Alternatively, a dedicated interfacewill typically incorporate the telephone interface 50.

[0033]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary IP telephone 36 capable of eitherinterfacing with the server module 38 or integrating the functionalityof the server module 38 therein. The IP telephone 36 will typicallyinclude a control system 52 having sufficient memory 54 to store thenecessary software 56 and data required for operation. The controlsystem 52 will also be associated with a keypad 58, display 60, and oneor more microphones 62 and speakers 64 to facilitate voice telephony viahands-free operation or a traditional headset. The control system 52will also include a module interface 66 for interfacing with the servermodule 38 in nonintegrated embodiments. Further, the control system 52will include an IP interface 68 for interfacing with the local areanetwork or the IP network 12.

[0034] The functional architecture of the server module 38 or anintegrated smart telephone configuration 30 is shown in FIG. 4. Thearchitecture will include a real-time operating system (RTOS) 70,preferably supporting a Personal Java Virtual Machine (PJVM) 72. ThePJVM 72 will support a SIP terminal proxy server (TPS) function 74,which provides a SIP user agent 76 and a basic, terminal proxy serverfunction 78. The SIP user agent 76 will communicate using SIP over theIP network 12 with various SIP devices 80, wherein the terminal proxyserver function 78 will communicate using, typically, a non-SIPprotocol, with supported IP telephones 82 (such as IP telephones 32, 34,36 as shown in FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B).

[0035] Expand key server function 84, provisioning server function 86,and configuration server function 88 are supported by the basic webserver function 90. The web server function 90 is configured to allow aweb browser 92 on a remote device, typically a PC or workstation of theassociated user of the IP telephone 32, 34, 36, to access theconfiguration, provisioning, and expand key server features 88, 86, and84 using configuration, provisioning, and expand key objects 94, 96, and98 supported by the web browser 92. As depicted, these features arepreferably Java-based and communicate using the Hypertext TransferProtocol (HTTP) when the web browser 92 accesses web pages supported bythe web server 90. A system administration feature 100 may be directlyaccessed over an IP network via a SIP network administrator 102 usingTelnet or an appropriate file transfer protocol.

[0036] The expand key server function 84 provides the ability to view,add, change, and delete information concerning the IP telephone 32, 34,36 via the web browser 92 of the individual user's PC 40. The webbrowser interface gives the user the ability to see information relatingto the provisioning and configuration of the respective IP telephonethrough a user-friendly web interface. The web interface allows the userto type in information using a regular keyboard using a traditionaldisplay, which provides a larger, more easily viewed display than thatnormally provided on the IP telephone 32, 34, 36. The expand key featuremay facilitate logging in to the system to gain authentication to usethe system, provide a list of callers for maintaining a directory ofnumbers that have called select terminals, or provide the registrationor configuration status of the login of any IP telephone 32, 34, 36 atany given time. Those skilled in the art will recognize many additionalIP telephone features that are more easily viewed or configured via atypical PC interface instead of using the smaller visual interfaceprovided by IP telephones.

[0037] The provisioning and configuration server functions 86, 88 allowusers to register new IP telephones and change provisioning for existingIP telephones in the work group 28. In particular, the configurationfeature provides a graphical user interface to select and choose systempreferences and properties, preferably using a Windows-based interface.For example, the application type, SIP proxy server addresses, softwareand firmware versions, host IP addresses, port numbers, and relatedconfiguration data may be selected or modified. In essence, virtuallyall of the communication and system parameters, preferences, andsettings are configurable, at group level or user level, by using a webbrowser 92 accessing the web server feature 90.

[0038] The preferences and settings may also include call processingconfigurations wherein the various telephone features, such as hold,transfer, call forwarding, and call waiting, may be provisioned. Forexample, call forwarding may be provisioned and configured using the webbrowser interface, such that an administrator may enable the callforwarding and a user may access the web server feature 90 to activatethe call forwarding feature and identify the user, IP address, ortelephone number to which calls are forwarded. In addition totraditional telephony features, web-based services may be provisionedand configured for any of the IP telephones via the web server feature90. For example, a stock ticker may be configured to provide stockquotes for select companies on the telephone display throughout the day.Those skilled in the art will recognize the innumerable features andfunctions that one would typically exercise in a normal desktop computeror web accessible hand-held device that may be implemented at the IPtelephone 32, 34, 36. The present invention supports all suchfunctionality, while allowing a user or the group administrator toinitially configure the functionality through a traditional web pagesupported by the web server 90, which is accessible by traditionalbrowsers.

[0039] Importantly, the web-based interface with the IP telephones 32,34, 36 in the work group 28 is provided directly by the server module 38or by an IP telephone configuration having the functionality of theserver module 38. As noted, the server module 38 provides the localintelligence and services for the associated IP telephones 32, 34, 36supported in the work group 28. Since the control in the work group 28is provided within the work group 28, an administrative assistant caneasily control the IP telephones 32, 34, 36 in the work group 28 withoutaffecting or gaining access to a traditional terminal proxy servercontrolling all the telephones within a business. Further, theadministrator and users can access the IP telephones 32, 34, 36 withinthe work group 28 in a user-friendly web-based environment.

[0040] Once the IP telephones 32, 34, 36 are configured, communicationswith the server module 38 are preferably facilitated using the UNISTIMprotocol, whereas the server module 38 communicates with other SIPdevices over the IP network 12 using SIP. FIG. 5 depicts an exemplarycommunication between an IP telephone 32 (client) supported by theserver module 38 (server) in the work group 28. Initially, the servermodule 38 will register with the SIP proxy server 20 (step 200). Theserver module 38 will then configure the IP telephone 32 based onprovisioning and configuration settings provided by an administratorthrough the web-based interface (step 202). The server module 38 mayalso register various aliases or additional information associated withthe IP telephone 32 with the SIP proxy server 20 (step 204). Forexample, IP telephone 32 may include a traditional telephone number, IPaddress or email address to identify the terminal.

[0041] Assuming that the IP telephone 32 intends to initiate a telephonecall to the SIP telephone, the IP telephone 32 will send an OFF-HOOKmessage to the server module 38 (step 206). The OFF-HOOK message ispreferably provided in the UNISTIM protocol wherein the server module 38will convert the OFF-HOOK message, which will typically includeidentifying information for the device being called, into a SIP INVITEmessage, which is sent to the SIP proxy server 20 (step 208). The SIPproxy server 20 will respond to the server module 38 with a 100 TRYINGmessage (step 210) and forward the INVITE message to the SIP telephonebeing contacted (step 212). The SIP telephone will respond by sending a180 RINGING message to the SIP proxy server 20 (step 214). The SIP proxyserver 20 will forward the 180 RINGING message to the server module 38(step 216), which will convert the message to the appropriate ringingmessage in the UNISTIM protocol and send the resultant message to the IPtelephone 32 (step 218).

[0042] Assuming that the user of the SIP telephone answers the ringingtelephone (step 220), the SIP telephone will send a 200 OK to the SIPproxy server 20 (step 222). The SIP proxy server 20 will forward the 200OK to the server module 38 (step 224), which will provide an answermessage to the IP telephone 32 (step 226) using the UNISTIM protocol.The server module 38 will then provide an acknowledgement (ACK) to theSIP proxy server 20 (step 228). At this point, the media path isestablished between the IP telephone 32 and the SIP telephone (step230).

[0043] When the user ends the call (step 232), an “ON-HOOK” message issent from the IP telephone 32 to the server module 38 (step 234). Inresponse, the server module 38 will send a SIP BYE message (step 236) tothe SIP proxy server 20, which will forward the BYE message to the SIPtelephone (step 238). The SIP telephone will respond with a 200 OK (step240) to the SIP proxy server 20, which will forward the 200 OK to theserver module 38 to officially end the communication (step 242). Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate the details of SIP, and that theabove call processing is merely provided to illustrate an exemplary callflow wherein either the server module 38 or a smart telephoneconfiguration 30 is capable of supporting any number of IP telephones inthe work group 28. An integrated smart telephone configuration 30 or aserver module 38 is configured to provide the local intelligence andservices for the associated IP telephones 32, 34 (and 36 in anonintegrated embodiment) by emulating a terminal proxy server, whichprovides for operation of and communication with each of the supportedIP telephones in the work group 28.

[0044] The present invention moves the concepts of terminal proxyservers to the edge of the IP network 12 by providing local work groups28 having IP telephones 32, 34, and 36 homed into and controlled by theserver module 38 associated with IP telephone 36 or integrated into asmart telephone configuration 30. Providing local intelligence andservices eliminates the need for all the IP telephones in the work group28 to be self-contained, and eliminates the need to network all IPtelephones within a business to a centralized terminal proxy server intraditional fashion. As such, local administrators and users have morefreedom to provision and configure the IP telephones in the work group28. Further, by providing the server function in the server module 38 orin an integrated smart telephone configuration 30, the localadministrator and users may configure individual ones or all of the IPtelephones within the work group 28 using a user-friendly graphical userinterface via a standard browser running on a personal computer or likedevice.

[0045] Those skilled in the art will recognize numerous modifications toand additional benefits provided by the present invention. Thesemodifications and benefits are considered within the scope of the abovedisclosure and the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A module for facilitating operation ofpacket-switched telephones, the module comprising: a) a networkinterface for communicating over a network; and b) a control systemoperatively associated with said network interface and providing aserver function adapted to control operation of a plurality ofpacket-switched telephones operating as clients of the server functionand facilitate communications between the plurality of packet-switchedtelephones and other telephony devices using a first protocol forcommunications with the plurality of packet-switched telephones and asecond protocol for communications with the other telephony devices. 2.The module of claim 1 further comprising a telephone interfaceassociated with the control system and adapted to connect to one of theplurality of packet-switched telephones, the control system furtheradapted to interact with one of the plurality of packet-switchedtelephones via the telephone interface.
 3. The module of claim 2 whereinthe control system is further adapted to cooperate with the one of theplurality of packet-switched telephones to initially configure the oneof the plurality of packet-switched telephones to work in conjunctionwith the module via the telephone interface.
 4. The module of claim 3wherein the control system is further adapted to facilitate telephonycommunications between the one of the plurality of packet-switchedtelephones and one of the other telephony devices via the networkinterface.
 5. The module of claim 1 wherein the control system isadapted to provide and control operation features for the plurality ofpacket-switched telephones.
 6. The module of claim 5 wherein theoperation features define provisioned telephony functions for theplurality of packet switched-telephones.
 7. The module of claim 5wherein the operation features define configuration settings for theplurality of packet switched-telephones.
 8. The module of claim 5wherein the operation features control at least one of the groupconsisting of keys, displays, responses, and functions of the pluralityof packet-switched telephones using the first protocol.
 9. The module ofclaim 5 wherein the control system further provides a web serverfunction adapted to provide network access to set the operation featuresof the plurality of packet-switched telephones using a web browser. 10.The module of claim 9 wherein the web server function provides at leastone web page providing an interface for a user to set select ones of theoperation features.
 11. The module of claim 1 wherein the serverfunction provides a terminal proxy server for the plurality ofpacket-switched telephones.
 12. The module of claim 1 wherein thecontrol system is further adapted to translate between the first andsecond protocols to facilitate communications between the plurality ofpacket-switched telephones and the other telephony devices.
 13. Themodule of claim 1 wherein the second protocol is a Session InitiationProtocol.
 14. A packet-switched telephone facilitating operation ofother packet-switched telephones comprising: a) a microphone and speakerconfiguration providing an audible interface; b) a packet-switchednetwork interface for communicating over a network; and c) a controlsystem operatively associated with said network interface and themicrophone and speaker configuration, the control system providing aserver function adapted to control operation of a plurality ofpacket-switched telephones operating as clients of the server functionand facilitate communications between the plurality of packet-switchedtelephones and other telephony devices using a first protocol forcommunications with the plurality of packet-switched telephones and asecond protocol for communications with the other telephony devices. 15.The packet-switched telephone of claim 14 wherein the control system isfurther adapted to facilitate telephony communications between one ofthe plurality of packet-switched telephone and one of the othertelephony devices via the packet-switched network interface.
 16. Thepacket-switched telephone of claim 14 wherein the control system isadapted to provide and control operation features for the plurality ofpacket-switched telephones.
 17. The packet-switched telephone of claim14 wherein the control system is adapted to provide and controloperation features for the plurality of packet-switched telephones. 18.The packet-switched telephone of claim 17 wherein the operation featuresdefine provisioned telephony functions for the plurality of packetswitched-telephones.
 19. The packet-switched telephone of claim 17wherein the operation features define configuration settings for theplurality of packet switched-telephones.
 20. The packet-switchedtelephone of claim 17 wherein the operation features control at leastone of the group consisting of keys, displays, responses, and functionsof the plurality of packet-switched telephones using the first protocol.21. The packet-switched telephone of claim 17 wherein the control systemfurther provides a web server function adapted to provide network accessto set the operation features of the plurality of packet-switchedtelephones using a web browser.
 22. The packet-switched telephone ofclaim 21 wherein the web server function provides at least one web pageproviding an interface for a user to set select ones of the operationfeatures.
 23. The packet-switched telephone of claim 14 wherein theserver function provides a terminal proxy server for the plurality ofpacket-switched telephones.
 24. The packet-switched telephone of claim14 wherein the control system is further adapted to translate betweenthe first and second protocols to facilitate communications between theplurality of packet-switched telephones and the other telephony devices.25. The packet-switched telephone of claim 14 wherein the secondprotocol is a Session Initiation Protocol.
 26. A method of controllingpacket-switched telephones comprising: a) providing a server function inassociation with a first packet-switched telephone; b) configuring thefirst packet-switched telephone and a second packet-switched telephoneas clients of the server function; c) controlling operation of the firstand second packet-switched telephones using the server function; and d)facilitating communications between a plurality of packet-switchedtelephones and other telephony devices with the server function using afirst protocol for communications with the plurality of packet-switchedtelephones and a second protocol for communications with the othertelephony devices.
 27. The method of claim 26 further comprisingproviding the server function in a module and associating the modulewith the first packet-switched telephone.
 28. The method of claim 26wherein the server function is integrated into the first packet-switchedtelephone.
 29. The method of claim 26 further comprising: a) providing aweb server to provide a web page configured to receive settings foroperation features defining operation of one of the first or secondpacket-switched telephones; b) receiving input to set operation featuresfor the one of the first or second packet switched-telephone via the webserver; and c) setting the operation features of the first or secondpacket-switched telephone based on the input.
 30. A packet switchedtelephony system comprising: a) a plurality of packet-switchedtelephones communicating over a packet-switched network and configuredto operate as clients of a server function; and b) a module associatedwith one of the plurality of packet-switched telephones comprising: i) anetwork interface for communicating over a network; and ii) a controlsystem operatively associated with said network interface and providingthe server function adapted to control operation of the plurality ofpacket-switched telephones and facilitate communications between theplurality of packet-switched telephones and other telephony devicesusing a first protocol for communications with the plurality ofpacket-switched telephones and a second protocol for communications withthe other telephony devices;
 31. A packet-switched telephony systemcomprising: a) a plurality of first packet-switched telephonescommunicating over a packet-switched network and configured to operateas clients of a server function; and b) a second packet-switchedtelephone comprising: i) a microphone and speaker configurationproviding an audible interface; ii) a packet-switched network interfacefor communicating over a network; and iii) a control system operativelyassociated with said network interface and the microphone and speakerconfiguration, the control system providing the server function adaptedto control operation of the plurality of first packet-switchedtelephones operating as clients of the server function and facilitatecommunications between the plurality of first packet-switched telephonesand other telephony devices using a first protocol for communicationswith the plurality of first packet-switched telephones and a secondprotocol for communications with the other telephony devices.
 32. Acomputer readable medium including software for facilitating operationof a group of packet-switched telephones, the software comprisinginstructions for a computer to provide: a) a server function adapted to:i) control operation of a plurality of packet-switched telephonesoperating as clients of the server function; and ii) facilitatecommunications between the plurality of packet-switched telephones andother telephony devices using a first protocol for communications withthe plurality of packet-switched telephones and a second protocol forcommunications with the other telephony devices, wherein the serverfunction is adapted to provide and control operation features for theplurality of packet-switched telephones; and b) a web server functionadapted to provide network access to set the operation features of theplurality of packet-switched telephones using a web browser.
 33. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 32 wherein the software is adapted toinstruct a control system of a module connected to one of the pluralityof packet-switched telephones.
 34. The computer readable medium of claim32 wherein the software is adapted to instruct a control system of oneof the plurality of packet-switched telephones.
 35. The computerreadable medium of claim 32 further comprising instructions adapted tocooperate with one of the plurality of packet-switched telephones toinitially configure the one of the plurality of packet-switchedtelephones to work in conjunction with the module via a telephoneinterface.
 36. The computer readable medium of claim 32 wherein theoperation features define provisioned telephony functions for theplurality of packet-switched telephones.
 37. The computer readablemedium of claim 32 wherein the operation features define configurationsettings for the plurality of packet-switched telephones.
 38. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 32 wherein the operation featurescontrol at least one of the group consisting of keys, displays,responses, and functions of the plurality of packet-switched telephonesusing the first protocol.
 39. The computer readable medium of claim 32comprising further instructions to enable the web server function toprovide at least one web page providing an interface for a user to setselect ones of the operation features.
 40. The computer readable mediumof claim 32 comprising further instructions to enable the serverfunction to provide a terminal proxy server for the plurality ofpacket-switched telephones.
 41. The computer readable medium of claim 32comprising further instructions to translate between the first andsecond protocols to facilitate communications between the plurality ofpacket-switched telephones and the other telephony devices.
 42. Themodule of claim 32 wherein the second protocol is a Session InitiationProtocol.
 43. A system for controlling packet-switched telephonescomprising: a) means for providing a server function in association witha first packet-switched telephone; b) means for configuring the firstpacket-switched telephone and a second packet-switched telephone asclients of the server function; c) means for controlling operation ofthe first and second packet-switched telephones using the serverfunction; and d) means for facilitating communications between aplurality of packet-switched telephones and other telephony devices withthe server function using a first protocol for communications with theplurality of packet-switched telephones and a second protocol forcommunications with the other telephony devices.
 44. The system of claim43 further comprising means for providing the server function in amodule and associating the module with the first packet-switchedtelephone.
 45. The system of claim 43 wherein the server function isintegrated into the first packet-switched telephone.
 46. The system ofclaim 43 further comprising: a) means for providing a web server toprovide a web page configured to receive settings for operation featuresdefining operation of one of the first or second packet-switchedtelephones; b) means for receiving input to set operation features forthe one of the first or second packet switched-telephone via the webserver; and c) means for setting the operation features of the first orsecond packet-switched telephone based on the input.